Poor mans bullet feeder

[whtsmoke]

After watching the video on the bullet feeder for the LNL wouldnt it be possible to just set up a tube arrangement that would hold the bullets like the primer tube holds the primers. I know you would have to load the tube by hand but the big question is it feasable?, just another dumb question from someone who has to watch what he spends.

 

[angus6]

like this http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/349969__28_00_Bullet_feeder_for_Any_Progressive.html

 

[whtsmoke]

Many thanks just what I was setting here thinking about, if you dont have a mill you can always set a small trim router up and make a jig so you can make a straight cutfor the window, i think i will go the mill route since I have one. Goes to show it pays to ask questions even if you think they are dumb.

 

[jmorris]

Lee makes a turret style, 4 tube rotary, setup that costs $25-30. No matter what you have to drop them in one at a time, so it's really just a poor man's bullet feeder, feeder. I build bullet collators out of PVC pipe and 1/2" plastic that are hands free once you dump a scoop of bullets into them, makes for faster loading and hands free, how it's supposed to be.

 

[john16443]

I bought the new RCBS bullet feed dies and plastic tubes in 9mm and 45ACP for my LNL. Really like them. See this thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=653112 I like the way it positively inserts a bullet in the flared portion of the case and holds it there. They tell you that you need to apply a specific amount of flare that is more than you normally would need for hand seating, and it's generally true. Too little flair and the plastic collet won't allow a bullet to drop.

You can get buy to load 50 at a time with what comes with the dies from RCBS. In hindsight, I wouldn't have bothered with the extra tubes. I understand that you can probably find these tubes at places like Bed Bath & Beyond and hobby shops.

It's relatively inexpensive, and really speeds thing up as you're not handling each bullet. It's easy to visually verify a powder drop and a bullet drop with your right hand on the handle and your left hand inserting a new case. Since you're not setting a bullet on top of the case first and then inserting a new case, you can easily complete a round every 3 seconds if you want to. I drilled some small holes through the tubes about 2" from the bottom and inserted a hitch pin. That way you can load up the tubes, insert it into the top of the die, remove the pin, and your ready to go.

 

[jmorris]

and really speeds thing up as you're not handling each bullet.

Don't you mean your not handling each bullet a second time?

 

[john16443]

Yes, you don't have to handle the bullets after you've loaded the tube. I have the tubes preloaded so when I'm ready to go I just insert the tube and never touch a bullet until I've completed the batch. Filling the tubes goes surprisingly fast. I fill them with 25 bullets each, and have 4 tubes ready to go. A batch or run for me is 100 since that's how many primers are in the feed tube. Once that first 100 are done, reload primer and bullet tubes and carry on.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Really neat idea, Since we are talking about using other companies parts on this press, I was thinking of buying the shuttle parts off of this company and putting my Lee pro100 shell feeder on mine.

I put together a bill of materials for the shuttle parts from Hornady that is around $50 bucks plus the Lee shell feeder. I already have the feeder and think I will try it for feeding cases. I will let you know if it works. I can't see why it won't.

Should work for bullets also like jmorris said.

You just got me in the mood.

This Lee case feeder and collator is cheap and works really well.

I like the tube idea for the bullets also. Cheap and quiet. I can't see dropping another $700.00 or so to buy the factory feeders for my LNL-AP for what I'm doing right now.

 

[dickttx]

I have been experimenting with the RCBS also, on a Lee Classic Turret. With fmj bullets it work without a hitch for me. With lead, no. Still have some experimenting I want to do before I give up on lead though.
Also, since I have resize, deprime, and prime as a separate step, and load the bullets into the tubes, I believe it actually takes longer, overall. However, once you get to that stage it sure is nice to just sit there and pull the lever.

 

[john16443]

dickttx - if you're using the RCBS bullet feeding die, make sure to remove all the flash from the inside of the plastic collet. There should still be a small shelf, so don't remove too much. Also remember that your lead bullets are usually a little bigger in diameter than FMJ, so you may have to slightly increase the flare or bell you put on the case. Try that and I'll be the lead bullets fall in when a shell is inserted. Mine do.

@tightgroup tiger - really interested in what you can find out about incorporating a Lee case feeder on a LNL. I'd be all in for that.

 

[jmorris]

I made this case feeder for an SD out of a section of box tubing to guide the plastic follower. There is a YouTube video of one a guy built with a drawer slide for an LNL that would be almost as cheap.



These are some bullet collators I made from 6" PVC pipe and 1/2" plastic (note the simple fixtures to keep the "spokes" even.

 

[whtsmoke]

ok i bit the bullet and got my die today so i will be playing around with it and get the tubes made, it was a surprise to see a ptx tube with it. i got the cop also.

 

[hentown]

A bullet feeder without an electric collator is less-than-worthless to me. AAMOF, it's just plain nonsensical.

 

[whtsmoke]

hentown i think you are right so now how do I go about putting a motor on my primer feeder? you have to start somewhere and if your funds are low which they are for some people you do what you can to get by. I think its a good idea but then my funds arent as high as others plus I'm still trying to figure out how to reload primers too.

 

[jmorris]

hentown i thin k you are right so now how do I go about putting a motor on my primer feeder?

Dillon sells them. Two of them, one for large another for small primers will set you back more than most presses cost. So unless you have very deep pockets you wouldn't want to mount one to every press. Actually I have only seen one mounted to a press ever, it's an automated 1050 in a cabinet on YouTube.

 

[whtsmoke]

but i dont like blue, it would have to be red to match the press plus its not homemade.

 

[dickttx]

John, appreciate the tip on flaring more for the lead bullets. I will try that next time.

 

[jmorris]

but i dont like blue, it would have to be red to match the press plus its not homemade.

The large primer ones are red. Unless you have a CNC mill at home you can forget about making a copy of the Dillon at home. However, the Lee/vibrator copy of the vibraprime can be made with a drill bit and hot glue gun at home.